The Bell Newsletter

September 2023 Issue: WRAP for Veterans, Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Observing Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month, MHANJ Announcements

Suicide Prevention Month

During September, Suicide Prevention Month, and all year-round, it is crucial to raise awareness about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, an essential emergency hotline. Previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, this service offers 24/7 immediate support through call, text, and chat services, connecting distressed individuals to trained crisis counselors. An individual may also reach out for guidance to support someone else in crisis.

The Mental Health Association in New Jersey's Call Center serves as one of five of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline crisis centers in New Jersey, which ensures the provision of high-quality care and innovative mental health practices.

Nearly 98% of people who call, chat or text the 988 Lifeline get the crisis support they need and do not require additional onsite services in that moment, such as mobile outreach or police.

Be the one to take action. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help and resources are always available at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

You are not alone!

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline program services

are designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind.

CALL: To speak to a crisis counselor in English or other languages, call 9-8-8.

TEXT OR CHAT: Texting and chatting services are available in English and Spanish. For services in English, text a message to 9-8-8 or visit 988lifeline.org to initiate chatting. For more information about services in English, click here. For more information about services in Spanish, click here.

ASL: According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), To connect directly to a trained 988 Lifeline counselor in ASL, callers who are Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened can click the "ASL Now" button on 988lifeline.org and follow the prompts. Direct dialing to 988 from a videophone will be available in the coming weeks, and in the meantime, ASL callers can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) from their videophone to reach ASL services. Click here for more information about ASL services.

MHANJ & VETERANS Join Forces to Tackle Mental Health

ANSWERING the CALL TO SERVE!

Pictured above left to right: MHANJ's Eve Ellsworth, VFW Member Jonathan Hinker, US Army Veteran Patrick Carney, MHANJ's Randy Elfenbein

It's A WRAP®

Veterans Utilize Wellness Recovery Action Plan

By Stephanie Sabetta

Team above Self, Dedication to the Mission; these familiar phrases evoke the brave men and women who have served our nation by joining the military. As one of the premiere mental health organizations in New Jersey, MHANJ’s mental health professionals are well aware of the minefields that veterans face after separating from active duty. It can be a vulnerable and isolating time.

In April, MHANJ held the first Wellness Recovery Action Plan or (WRAP®) Seminar 1, featuring a prevention and wellness process that anyone can use to get well and stay well, specifically for veterans. A total of nine veterans from various branches of service and one spouse of a veteran completed this workshop. Several of these veterans will go on later this year to become Certified WRAP® Facilitators. The MHANJ Co-Facilitators, Eve Ellsworth and Randy Elfenbein, led this inaugural WRAP® workshop for Veterans.

This first WRAP Seminar 1 course represents MHANJ's evolving relationship with veterans and is one of several initiatives being developed to support veterans' wellness.

Supporting Our Veterans

US Army Veteran, Patrick Carney, met Victoria Phillips (Executive Director, MHANJ Atlantic County) while serving together as members of the Cape Atlantic Veterans Suicide Prevention Committee. Patrick was working for the Wilmington VA Medical Center serving Southern New Jersey. He and others felt compelled to do more for the military community. Click here to read more.

Look for more on MHANJ’s work with veterans in future newsletters.

JOINT INITIATIVE OFFERS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING TO NEW JERSEY VETERANS

The MHANJ is honored to partner with the New Jersey Hospital Association and the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in a new statewide program providing Mental Health First Aid training to Veterans and those who support them. Click the arrow on the graphic to the right to see the NJ Spotlight News segment from the press conference announcing this program. This segment includes Ruth Kaluski, MHANJ's Statewide Director of Strategic Programs and Mental Health First Aid.

FREE SUPPORT FOR VETERANS

MHANJ sponsors virtual discussion and support groups for veterans and family members. All veterans from any branch of service are welcome.

For more information contact Jaime Angelini at jangelini@mhanj.org or Torie Fisher at tfisher@mhanj.org.

MHANJ Observes National Recovery Month and

National Hispanic Heritage Month!

Observed every September, the goal of National Recovery Month (Recovery Month) is to help increase awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders and encourages individuals in need of treatment and recovery services to seek help. Recovery Month celebrates individuals living in recovery and recognizes the dedicated workers who provide the prevention, treatment, and recovery support services that help make recovery possible.

Click here to read more.

The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is pleased to recognize September 15 through October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month. The observation was initiated in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded to 30 days in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. The time frame of Hispanic Heritage Month is significant because it covers milestone independence days and/or celebrations of Indigenous people for several Latin American countries. Click here to read more.

Important Announcements

Please Join Us for Our 2023

Evening of Excellence

Click here for more information about our honorees.

Click here to puchase tickets and for details

about sponsorships and ad journal ads.

To register for WRAP for Stakeholders,

click here or use scan the QR code below.

Out and About

Above, left to right: The MHANJ'S Daysi Sanz and Jaime Angelini attended the "Out of the Darkness" Atlantic-Cape Walk in Atlantic City held on September 10. These community walks are sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in conjunction with

#WorldSuicidePreventionDay.

Above, middle, left to right: The MHANJ's Parantap Pandya and Dr. Vasudev Makhija, pause for a photo with event participants at a recent celebration hosted by SAMHIN, a non-profit organization that addresses the mental health needs of the South Asian community. SAMHIN's goal is to decrease the stigma associated with mental illness and offer resources for people who seek help. Dr. Makhija, the organization's founder and past president, was honored at the event.

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